A Nacogdoches man was sentenced to 25 years in prison following his fifth conviction for driving while intoxicated.

Bobby Earl Williams, 57, was found guilty of felony DWI in Judge Edward Klein's 420th District Court following a one-day jury trial earlier this week. Assistant District Attorney James Krug prosecuted Williams, who was represented by William Agnew.

Williams was arrested Dec. 23, 2005, on suspicion of driving under the influence. He refused to provide a breath or blood specimen at the time of the offense, Krug said, though other evidence, such as the arresting officer's testimony and the patrol car's in-dash video, convinced the jury Williams was intoxicated. Williams was stopped after he narrowly avoided collision with oncoming traffic the night of the arrest, Krug said.

Third-degree felony DWI carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison; however, Klein gave Williams a 25-year sentence because he was considered a habitual offender under the Texas Penal Code due to his prior felony convictions. In addition to his four previous DWI convictions, Williams was also convicted of attempted sexual assault in 1983 and indecency with a child in 1988, according to public records.

"I felt it was important to push for a significant sentence for Mr. Williams. He'd already been to prison not only for DWI, but for two other serious felonies," Krug said. "At some point, it just has to stop."